“Building vibrant communities through philanthropy” is one of the guiding principles of the grant making at the Community Foundation.
“Building vibrant communities through philanthropy” is one of the guiding principles of the grantmaking at the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. The Foundation’s board of directors recently approved $2.8 million in community impact grants to 39 nonprofit organizations in the two-county region. Collectively, the Foundation will provide over $9.92 million in grants and scholarships in its 2014-2015 fiscal year.
Grants were awarded through several charitable funds at the Foundation, including the MacArthur Foundation Housing Initiative; John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fund; The Environmental Fund; and the Hans and Mary Stratmann Fund. The grant cycle opened last fall and the process includes letters of inquiry; invitations for full proposals; site visits; committee evaluations and scoring; and final recommendations to the Community Foundation board in May.
Competitive and responsive grants are only one part of the Foundation’s annual grantmaking. Most grants are directed by donors to the causes they care about. The Foundation also has nearly 100 scholarship funds, making it one of the largest providers of scholarships in the two counties. This year, the organization awarded more than $779,000 to 100 local high school students.
“We’re looking forward to supporting our grantees through all phases of their projects,” added Hurlburt. “From a new youth orchestra program to the Palm Beach County Food Bank and efforts to keep our children safe – we all share a common mission to build a vibrant community in Palm Beach and Martin Counties.”
For more information on the grants program, or about establishing a charitable fund at the Community Foundation, please call 561-659-6800 or visit www.yourcommunityfoundation.org.
Here are the 2014-2015 grantees by category:
2014-2015 Community Impact Grants
$2,834,269.00
ALLEVIATE HUNGER
$75,000.00
Palm Beach County Food Bank $75,000.00
Funded by the Community Impact Fund
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
$ 728,443.00
Gulfstream Goodwill Industries $146,443.00
Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County $119,167.00
Habitat for Humanity of Martin County $108,333.00
Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County $119,167.00
Pathways to Prosperity $75,000.00
Tigerlili Resources $52,000.00
Urban League of Palm Beach County $108,333.00
Funded by MacArthur Foundation Housing Initiative
ARTS & CULTURE
$875,601.00
Ballet Palm Beach $22,000.00
Blue Planet International Explorers’ Bazaar and Writers’ Room $60,000.00
Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County $117,000.00
Cultural Council of Palm Beach County $165, 000.00
EPOCH Organization $23,650.00
Florida Atlantic University $115,460.00
Raymond F. Kravis Center for Performing Arts $105,600.00
Library Foundation of Martin County $163,293.00
Milagro Center $20,760.00
YMCA of South Palm Beach County $8,338.00
Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County $74,500.00
Funded by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fund
EDUCATION
$312,441.00
Boynton Beach High School $67,750.00
University of Florida $244,691.00
Funded by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fund and the Hans and Mary Stratmann Fund
ENVIRONMENT
$294,094.00
1000 Friends of Florida $30,000.00
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary $149,629.00
Environmental Studies Council $29,050.00
Ocean Research and Conservation Association $35,415.00
The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast $50,000.00
Funded by the Environmental Fund and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fund
YOUTH
$425,000.00
Children’s Home Society of Florida, Palm Beach Division $165,000.00
HomeSafe $150,000.00
Vita Nova $110,000.00
Funded by the Hans and Mary Stratmann Fund
2014-2015 Field of Interest Grant Awards
$123,690.00
Boys and Girls Club of Martin County $20,000.00
(Lawrence A. Sanders Fund to Promote Literacy)
Coalition for Independent Living Options $6,700.00
(Perry-Belle and Phillip D O’Connell Fund)
Girls on the Run Palm Beaches $1,900.00
(Bailey Stein Fund)
Kids Cancer Foundation of South Florida $10,000.00
(Mosaic Fund)
Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County $17,400.00
(Lawrence A. Sanders Fund to Promote Literacy)
Police Athletic League of West Palm Beach $1,490.00
(Cliff Williams Youth Recreation Fund)
School of the Arts Foundation $8,000.00
(Mosaic Fund)
Scripps Research Institute $40,000.00
(Betty S. Price Fund)
The Florida Coalition for Preservation $6,200.00
(Thomas Ladue McGinty Memorial Environmental Fund)
Treasure Coast Community Singers $12,000.00
(Mosaic Fund)
Grantees by Region:
Martin County
| Boys and Girls Club of Martin County | Rock “n” Roll Reading Challenge | $20,000.00 |
| Environmental Studies Council | Interactive Estuary Display | $29,050.00 |
| Habitat for Humanity, of Martin County | Neighborhood Revitalization | $108,333.00 |
| Library Foundation of Martin County | Golden Gate Community Revitalization through the Arts | $163,293.00 |
| The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast | Mission Mangrove Traveling Exhibit | $50,000.00 |
| Treasure Coast Community Singer | Technology Database | $12,000.00 |
| Total | $382,676.00 |
Grant highlight: The Library Foundation of Martin County received a three-year grant to support the Martin County Library System’s community art literacy program in the Golden Gate-area of Stuart. Through this “Gateway to the Arts” project, the Library and its partners will increase engagement, participation, and cultural celebration within this diverse community. The project will promote the cultural value of the Golden Gate community by offering events and activities focusing on an appreciation and understanding of the arts, as both a window to the world and a platform for personal expression.
South Palm Beach County
| Boynton Beach High School | Medical Sciences Academy | $67,750.00 |
| EPOCH Organization | Kids Cultural Empowerment Camp | $23,650.00 |
| Florida Atlantic University | Integrated Arts Mentoring Program | $115,460.00 |
| Habitat for Humanity South Palm Beach County | Veteran and Military Build Project | $119,167.00 |
| Milagro Center | Milagro Music Program | $20,760.00 |
| Palm Beach County Food Bank | Food Recovery and Distribution | $75,000.00 |
| Pathways To Prosperity | Circles Palm Beach County | $75,000.00 |
| The Florida Coalition for Preservation | Healthy and Sustainable Dunes Initiative | $6,200.00 |
| YMCA of South Palm Beach County | Summer SmArt | $8,338.00 |
| Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County | Outreach and Enrichment Program for Title 1 Schools | $74,500.00 |
| Total | $585,825.00 |
Grant highlight: The Youth County Orchestra received a two-year grant that will provide funds to support the “Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County Outreach and Enrichment Program for Title I Schools. The outreach and enrichment program will provide as many as 19 youngsters at each host school with group music instruction at no charge, two-days-a-week, after school. Instruction by two highly qualified music educators will center on string instruments such as the violin, viola, cello and bass.
Central Palm Beach County
| Ballet Palm Beach | Ballet Palm Beach Outreach | $22,000.00 |
| Blue Planet International Explorers’ Bazaar and Writers’ Room | Creative Connections | $60,000.00 |
| Children’s Home Society of Florida, Palm Beach Division | “Skills for Life” | $165,000.00 |
| Cultural Council of Palm Beach County | Creative Corridor Initiative, Lake Worth | $165, 000.00 |
| Coalition for Independent Living Options | Bridge to Work Summer (BTW) | $6,700.00 |
| Girl on the Run Palm Beaches | Technology Upgrade | $1,900.00 |
| Gulfstream Goodwill Industries | Home at Jay Street | $146,443.00 |
| Habitat for Humanity | Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative | $119,167.00 |
| HomeSafe | Enhanced Group Home | $150,000.00 |
| Police Athletic League West Palm Beach | PAL Wrestling | $1,490.00 |
| Raymond F. Kravis Center for Performing Arts | Broadway Reach | $105,600.00 |
| School of the Arts Foundation | Ray of Light Program | $8,000.00 |
| Tigerlili Resources | Home Sweet Home | $52,000.00 |
| University of Florida Foundation | STEM Initiative | $244,691.00 |
| Urban League of Palm Beach County | Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program | $108,333.00 |
| Vita Nova | OASIS Housing Support Project | $110,000 |
| Total | $1,466,324.00 |
Grant highlight: The Creative Corridor Initiative in Lake Worth grant will be used for the groups’ new project, one that will rehab vacant storefronts and buildings and turn them into arts-related businesses. The program’s goal is to attract more artists to downtown Lake Worth’s Arts and Design District.
Western Palm Beach County
| 1000 Friends of Florida | Water 2070: A Sustainable Vision | $30,000.00 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County | Artist-driven art in the Glades | $117,000.00 |
| Kids Cancer Foundation of South Florida | Arts and Health & Portable Playroom Program | $10,000.00 |
| Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County | Glades Family Education Program | $17,400.00 |
| Total | $174,400.00 |
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ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties is one of Florida’s largest community foundations. The nonprofit organization has provided $120 million in grants and scholarships over its 43-year history. At its core, the Community Foundation is an organization created with gifts from generous people committed to local causes. For donors, the Foundation serves as a philanthropic advisor. For the community, the Foundation serves as a grant maker and a civic leader. Through the support of its donors and fund holders, the Foundation has been able to address some of the community’s most pressing needs, including hunger, housing and education.
